Comment Period Closes on December 28, 2015 for open water fishing tournaments in 2016.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on fishing contests proposed for the open water season of 2016. Participants must comply with state fishing regulations, including daily and possession limits. Most contests require catch-and-release fishing and participants in these contests may not keep any fish.
Applications for contests may be approved, denied or approved with conditions. Conditions placed on contests may help to minimize fish mortality, regulate harvest, reduce user conflicts or require additional access site maintenance when needed.
Information on the proposed contests can be found on the bottom of FWP web page: http://fwp.mt.gov/fishing/whereToFish/contests/ or call 406-444-2449. The public may comment on the proposed contests through Dec. 28, 2015.
Comments may be mailed to FWP Fisheries Division, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT, 59620-0701 or emailed to fwpfsh@mt.gov.
Here is a list of the proposed summer fishing contests for 2016.
Proposed 2016 Open Water Derbies
Region 1
| 04/23/16 |
Snappy’s Big Bass Bash |
Echo, Abbot and Peterson Lakes |
| 05/21/16 |
Poor Man May |
Noxon Rapids Reservoir |
| 06/11/16 |
Flathead River Pike Round Up |
Flathead River/Slough/Flathead Lake |
| 09/17/16 |
Snappy’s Perch Festival |
Lake Mary Ronan |
| 09/17/16 |
Poor Man September |
Noxon Rapids Reservoir |
| 10/08/16 |
Poor Man October |
Noxon Rapids Reservoir |
| 03/18/16 – 05/15/16 |
Spring Mack Days |
Flathead Lake |
| 04/30/16 – 05/01/16 |
Montana BASS Nation Spring Buddy Tournament |
Noxon Rapids Reservoir |
| 05/14/16 – 05/15/16 |
Koocanusa Resort & Marina 13th Annual Trout and Salmon Derby |
Lake Koocanusa |
| 06/11/16 – 06/12/16 |
Poor Man/TBF |
Noxon Rapids Reservoir |
| 06/18/16 – 06/19/16 |
Kickin Horse Saloon & Eatery’s Father’s Day Fishing Derby |
Thompson Chain of Lakes, Crystal & Loon Lakes |
| 06/25/16 – 06/26/16 |
First Annual Bull Lake Pike Assault |
Bull Lake |
| 07/08/16 – 07/09/16 |
Tobacco Valley Rod & Gun Fishing Derby |
Lake Koocanusa |
| 07/30/16 – 07/31/16 |
Tri-State Bass Tournament |
Noxon Rapids Reservoir |
| 08/06/16 – 08/07/16 |
Bull Lake Summer Derby |
Bull Lake |
| 08/19/16 – 08/21/16 |
Montana BASS Nation State Championship |
Noxon Rapids Reservoir |
| 09/23/16 – 11/13/16 |
Fall Mack Days |
Flathead Lake |
Region 2
None
Region 3
| 06/11/16 |
Livingston Firefighters Kids Fishing Derby |
Sacajawea Park Lagoon |
Region 4
| 06/11/16 |
Canyon Ferry Carp Safari |
Canyon Ferry Reservoir |
| 06/19/16 |
White Sulphur Springs Lions Club Annual Father’s Day Fish Derby |
Newlan Creek Reservoir |
| 07/16/16 |
Broadwater Rod and Gun Walleye Derby |
Canyon Ferry Reservoir |
| 08/13/16 |
Camp-Make-A-Dream Walleye Benefit |
Canyon Ferry Reservoir |
| 08/27/16 |
John Arnold Fish Derby |
Hauser Reservoir |
| 05/20/16 – 05/22/16 |
Fort Benton Spring Classic Fishing Derby |
Missouri River -Marias River – Teton River |
| 06/11/16 – 06/12/16 |
Tiber Walleye Tournament |
Tiber Reservoir, Lake Elwell |
| 06/25/16 – 06/26/16 |
Canyon Ferry Walleye Festival |
Canyon Ferry Reservoir |
Region 5
| 05/14/16 |
10th Annual Yellowstone Challenge |
Yellowstone River |
| 07/15/16 |
Bighorn River Alliance Carp Tournament |
Yellowtail Afterbay Reservoir |
| 05/14/16 – 05/15/16 |
NBAA Qualifier |
Yellowtail Reservoir |
| 07/16/16 – 07/17/16 |
NBAA Qualifier |
Yellowtail Reservoir |
| 09/10/16 – 09/11/16 |
Fall Cats Fever |
Yellowstone River |
Region 6
| 04/16/16 |
Jordan Chapter Tough Guy Tournament |
Fort Peck Reservoir: out of Hell Creek |
| 06/04/16 |
17th Annual Milk River Catfish Classic |
Milk River (Juneberg Bridge to mouth of the Milk River). |
| 06/25/16 |
Hell Creek Ladies’ Fishing Tournament |
Fort Peck Reservoir (Hell Creek State Park) |
| 07/30/16 |
Women’s Fishing Tournament |
Fort Peck Reservoir |
| 08/20/16 |
Fishin’ For the Cure |
Fort Peck Reservoir |
| 05/21/16 – 05/22/16 |
NBAA Qualifier |
Fort Peck Reservoir |
| 05/21/16 – 05/22/16 |
Fresno Challenge |
Fresno Reservoir |
| 06/04/16 – 06/05/16 |
Rock Creek Walleye Tournament |
Fort Peck Reservoir, Rock Creek Marina |
| 06/11/16 – 06/12/16 |
15th Annual Pikemasters |
Fort Peck – Big Dry Arm |
| 07/07/16 – 07/10/16 |
29th Annual Montana Governor’s Cup Walleye Tournament |
Fort Peck Reservoir |
| 07/23/16 – 07/24/16 |
Hell Creek Walleye Tournament |
Fort Peck Reservoir |
| 08/06/16 – 08/07/16 |
Fall Classic Walleye Tournament |
Fort Peck Reservoir: Crooked Creek Bay or Hell Creek Bay |
| 09/24/16 – 09/25/16 |
EMBA / NBAA MT State Championship |
Fort Peck Reservoir |
Region 7
| 06/11/16 |
Savage Volunteer Fire Department Catfish Tournament |
Yellowstone River (from Cottonwood Creek downstream to Sidney Bridge) |
| 09/17/16 |
Yellowstone River Classic |
Yellowstone River |
| 10/15/16 |
Yellowstone River Rats Jig N Crank Fest |
Yellowstone River and tributaries |
The original Public Information FWP web page can be found @ http://fwp.mt.gov/news/newsReleases/fishing/nr_0956.html
